§ 8. Julie Morgan (Cardiff, North)What discussions he has had with ministerial and National Assembly colleagues on help for pensioners in Wales. [83074]
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Peter Hain)We have regular discussions, and from October 2003 898 the new pension credit will benefit 250,000 pension households in Wales. Those on £150 a week will receive an extra £21.50, or £1,100 a year.
§ Julie MorganWhat plans has my right hon. Friend to help sort out the pensions of the work force of Allied Steel and Wire in Cardiff? Does he know the extent of the shortfall in the pension fund, and what discussions is he having with the Department of Work and Pensions?
§ Peter HainI know how much attention and support my hon. Friend has given the workers of ASW, along with her fellow Cardiff members. My hon. Friend the Minister is due to meet officials at the Department of Work and Pensions and the Department of Trade and Industry's redundancy payments service to take the discussions forward.
§ Mr. Simon Thomas (Ceredigion)Does the Secretary of State share my concern that more than 40 per cent. of pensioners in Wales are not accessing the minimum income guarantee or the income support that is available to them? What steps are he and his Government going to take to ensure that that money reaches every pensioner in Wales, and that none is worse off simply because they cannot bear to go through a bureaucratic nightmare?
§ Peter HainI agree with the hon. Gentleman that not enough of the poorest pensioners are claiming their entitlement to the minimum pension guarantee, which would lift their income to £102 a week. That measure is part of the Government's strategy of tackling pensioner poverty, and we are trying to encourage all pensioners to take up those opportunities.